Got a hankering to get a pistol caliber LEVER gun. Was impressed with the henry carbines.
I can reload for them all.
No idea what to use it for. Probably more plinking than anything.
Thinking 357 in 16" barrel has the most range?
Kinda rural. Sometimes carry a holstered Smith, either a 28 or a 29 4inch. Got a bullsnake with the 44 shot load. Wanted to shoot the fed ex kid but resisted.
What's the longest practical range for the 357 in 16" barrel? Old eyes. Probably throw some rear peep sights on it.

.357 Magnum. You can get some righteous muzzle velocity out of full power .357 loads in a 16" barrel, even higher velocity in the 18.5" barrel of a Marlin 1894CS. You can shot your rifle ammo in your .357 revolver and you can shoot the .38 Special ammo from your S&W J frame in your rifle, if needed. Very versatile, the .357 lever action rifle, and plenty of power to take deer-sized game at moderate distances.

I second the 357. Buffalo Bore has ammo that tops 2k FPS out of an 18.5" barrel. I have a 20" Henry Steel Boy and can easily hit steel poppers at 100 yards with 38+P. I replaced the buckhorn barrel mounted rear sight with a receiver mounted peep. My rifle is most accurate with 357 loads, although it's pretty good with 38 special as well.

quote:

Originally posted by mike56:
Got a hankering to get a pistol caliber LEVER gun. Was impressed with the henry carbines.
I can reload for them all.
No idea what to use it for. Probably more plinking than anything.
Thinking 357 in 16" barrel has the most range?
Kinda rural. Sometimes carry a holstered Smith, either a 28 or a 29 4inch. Got a bullsnake with the 44 shot load. Wanted to shoot the fed ex kid but resisted.
What's the longest practical range for the 357 in 16" barrel? Old eyes. Probably throw some rear peep sights on it.

357 lever gun get the most out of your full house 357 hand loads. I have williams peep on my Marlin but may switch over to a reflex. range 100 yards no problem. I shoot at the steel at our range that is @at 200. I know the trajectory pretty well so easily man size target at 200 with some practice and my full house loads 125 and 140. Well broken in so very slick action.

I'm inclined to cast my ballot for 44 magnum, based largely on its overall energy, coupled with relatively little recoil in a rifle. However, the 357 magnum is a faster round, resulting in less drop as distances extend. For that reason, it does standout in a way the .44 cannot. And, 357 is typically cheaper and easier to find for the non-reloader.

Another vote for 357.
Lever action rifle or revolver, I think it offers the most versatility.
Super hot 357 or super mild 38spcl.

Also cost, 357 isn’t exactly cheap, but go price some 44mag and THEN price some 44spcl (if you can find it)

.357mag.

My Marlin 1894 Cowboy Limited is .357. Didn't consider a .44 mag because I already had a couple of .357mag revolvers

I'm gonna go with 357 also. I have 2 Henry's one in 357 Big Boy All Weather 20" barrel and the Henry 44mag Big Boy Steel in 16".

I prefer the 357 for Az with a 180 Underwood Flat Lead NosE or the 140GR extreme penetrator.

I love my .357 lever guns.



(okay, one of those is a 30-30, but still)

For overall efficiency: .357
And replacing the el cheapo OEM sights is a must.

I just got a Marlin 1894CSBL in .357Mag last week and it’s already one of my favorite guns. I just shot it again today and did a little video. I should have it done tomorrow. I highly recommend a .357Mag.

I'm in the hunt for a lever action, but I'm going with .44 Magnum because it's a cartridge I hunt with frequently.

I do own .357's and can hunt with them, but I prefer the .44 Magnum.

But....the .357 lever action is the more practical choice of the two calibers.

Did I say....I'm going to need two lever action rifles??? LOL!

I have 1894s in .45 Colt and .357 Mag. The .45 Colt packs a whallop, but if I had to pick only one I'd keep the .357. The increase in velocity that the longer barrel will wring out of that cartridge is mind-boggling, and shooting light .38 specials out of it is about like shooting a .22.

My .357 is incredibly accurate, and it's just lighter enough than the .45 Colt to make a difference. It's my favorite rifle. Unless you are already heavily invested in a different caliber, I'd say go with the .357.

One of the guns on my wish list is a lever rifle in .45 Colt, but I'll also concede that a .357Mag/.38Spl is probably more versatile. I don't have any particular use in mind for mine when I get it, just a fun shooter to go with my .45 Colt revolvers.

quote:

Originally posted by 92fstech:
I have 1894s in .45 Colt and .357 Mag. The .45 Colt packs a whallop, but if I had to pick only one I'd keep the .357. The increase in velocity that the longer barrel will wring out of that cartridge is mind-boggling, and shooting light .38 specials out of it is about like shooting a .22.

My .357 is incredibly accurate, and it's just lighter enough than the .45 Colt to make a difference. It's my favorite rifle. Unless you are already heavily invested in a different caliber, I'd say go with the .357.

I’m very pleased with the precision of my 1894 with 357 but it’s much less precise with 38. Is yours like that too? I’m only shot reloads from LAX so far (both calibers).

I have a Winchester '94 in .45 Colt to go with my Colt SAA revolvers in .45 Colt.

I am looking for a lever-action in .44-40 to go with my Colt SAA in .44-40.

I have a Winchester '94 in .44 magnum to go with my Ruger Blackhawk in .44 magnum.

I don't have any single-action revolvers in .357 magnum.

I have been getting the itch for the new Henry X model Big Boy in .357.

It has both the loading gate and the tube mag.

I'm not sure if it will be CA legal as it has a threaded barrel.

I'd love to fond an older Marlin in .41mag

A video of shooting the Marlin 1894CSBL from yesterday. It's a lot of fun to shoot.

I recently bought a 44-40 Uberti 1873 Replica and was more than pleased with its shooting.

I could not find a 6 gun in 44-40 that I liked, so I bought two in 45 Colt, a Taylor Smoke Wagon with a 4 3/4 barrel and a Taylor replica of the 1858 Remington conversion, also in 45 Colt with an 8 (I think) inch barrel.

Now I am hung up on whether to buy a 45 Colt Carbine or keep looking for that 44-40 6 gun.

I do have a Marlin 38-55 which is a real shooter and I recently got an El Tigre in 44-40 which is the only Spanish-made gun I will ever have.

I had a 357 in a 92 Rossi Carbine, an older one, pre-safety, but I just could not seem to warm up to it.

I know the 357 is a powerful cartridge, but the old ones, the 44-40 and 38-55 especially are big, and will do anything I want to do with a carbine.

Bob